Influence of planting date on stand, yield and quality of sugarbeet

Abstract

Field studies were conducted at four locations each year in 1991 , 1992 and 1993 in the sugarbeet growing regions of the Nebraska Panhandle to examine yield difference due to planting date. Sugarbeet was planted on five dif­ ferent dates for each site beginning the first week of April and continuing at 10 to 15 day intervals, depending on weather. Sugarbeet was planted to stand and thinned to stand. The varieties Monohikari and Beta KW3778 were compared for each planting date and planting method. Plant population was greater in the thinned to stand treat­ ments but did not influence the final yield. The first plant­ ing period, April 1 to 10, provided the highest sugar yield for the Monohikari variety. For the Beta K\V3778 vari­ ety, the first three planting periods provided the highest sugar yield. Variety l\10nohikari had a greater yield than Beta KW3778 when planted early, but had a lower yield when planted late.